Evan Lawbaugh, Waynesboro, receives almost seven years of probation for child porn possession

CHAMBERSBURG >> A Franklin County Judge agreed to give a Waynesboro man a jail-free sentence for possession of child pornography during a Wednesday morning hearing, but not without emphasizing the crime committed.

Evan Lawbaugh, 31, pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual abuse of children-possession of child pornography on Dec. 22, and was sentenced by Franklin County President Judge Carol Van Horn on the charges Wednesday.

"You did access, purposefully, despicable information that victimizes children," Van Horn told Lawbaugh during the hearing. She said he might not know their names, and the court may never know who they are, but "I don't want this to be lost that you victimized children."

Lawbaugh was charged on March 6, 2014, after Attorney General investigators from the Child Predator Unit found he had downloaded child pornography to his private computer, according to court documents. The videos included scenes of girls between the ages of five and six years-old in sexual situations.

All in all, investigators found hundreds of images and videos of child pornography between Lawbaugh's laptop computer and three thumb drives, according to court documents.

Van Horn's decision to sentence Lawbaugh to probation and a time-served jail sentence came after Lawbaugh's lawyer Eric Weisbrod argued vehemently on his behalf.

Weisbrod said he has grown to know Lawbaugh since his arrest and added that he has been extremely cooperative with the conditions of his pretrial release. These conditions included prohibition of a cell phone and internet access as well as electronic monitoring while on house arrest. A letter was presented to the court on Lawbaugh's behalf from a neighbor, but was not read on the record.

"He is not just compliant, he is very cognizant of the conditions of his release," Weisbrod said. "Evan doesn't are if you give him the rest of his life on probation."

Lawbaugh said he understood that the charge classified as a tier three Megan's Law offense, he would be registering his house, vehicle, computer and other personal items for the rest of his life.

"I would have absolutely no reservations to having Evan move into my neighborhood," Weisbrod said. He said he didn't want to vouch for Lawbaugh, but he knew him well and knew he meant to take responsibility.

Lawbaugh himself told Van Horn that he had learned a lot through the experience, "as unfortunate as these circumstances have been."

He said he has found a new life and is looking forward to starting over.

Van Horn said she took into account that Lawbaugh accepted responsibility from the beginning.

She said if he does violate the sentence, "serious consequences will be involved."

Lawbaugh is sentenced to 83 months of probation — which is a month shy of seven years.

Lawbaugh was incarcerated between March 6 and April 6, 2014, and received credit for that time. He was also ordered to pay a $250 fine.

He is ordered to undergo sex offender treatment as recommended. He is prohibited from consuming controlled substances and from having unsupervised contact with anyone under 18.